Bernard J. Durkan
Question:163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will provide for a substantial increase in child benefit payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27182/01]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that it has been a Government priority to invest heavily in the child benefit scheme as a means of easing the financial burden of rearing children. Before this Government came to office, expenditure on child benefit was £397, 504, million annually. Our first three budgets increased this to £575, 730, million, an increase of more than 40%. The very significant increases in child benefit rates provided for in budget 2001, which raised the level for the first two children by £25, 31.74, per month and for the third and subsequent children by £30, 38.09, per month, came into effect in June of this year. Total expenditure on child benefit is now over £900, 1,143, million per year. Moreover, the Government is committed to providing for increases of similar magnitude in the next two budgets, bringing investment in the scheme up to a total of some £1.5, 1.9, billion in a full year by 2003.
This means that by 2002, we will have exceeded the commitment contained in the programme for prosperity and fairness to move towards child benefit rates of £100 per month for third and subsequent children.